Mum took cocaine 'when baby was a few days old'

A mum accused of causing her daughter's death has admitted taking cocaine when her baby was just a few days old.

Melissa Wilband, 28, of Newent in Gloucestershire, and her ex partner Jack Wheeler, 31, of Ledbury in Herefordshire, each deny charges of manslaughter and causing or allowing the death of Wilband's daughter, Lexi Wilband, in April 2020.

At Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, Ms Wilband and Mr Wheeler's use of drugs was discussed, with the court previously hearing how the former couple were regular cocaine users.

Lexi died at four months old on 18 April 2020, and a post-mortem examination gave her cause of death as bleeding to the brain.

This was caused by a non-accidental traumatic event such as someone "shaking her violently", said Jane Osborne KC, representing the prosecution, earlier in the trial.

Ms Wilband openly admitted to using cocaine while Lexi was alive, and was asked on Thursday about how often she took it, and where.

The court was also read some of the text messages between Ms Wilband and then-partner Mr Wheeler from before Lexi's death.

Prosecuting, Ms Osborne asked: "Over the four-and-a-half months from Lexi's birth to Lexi's death, you took cocaine often, didn't you?"

Ms Wilband replied: "I don't know, I can't answer. I don't remember."

When Ms Osborne asked Ms Wilband where she and Mr Wheeler took cocaine, she replied that they would take it "in the car", after which they "would go shopping".

"I never did drugs around Lexi," she said, adding that Lexi was with her parents when she took drugs.

Ms Wilband admitted there were bags in her bedside cabinet which had contained cocaine, but said she didn't remember whether she ever took the drug in bed when her daughter was next to her.

"Even if you took cocaine out of the house, were you not suffering the effects when you returned?" Ms Osborne asked.

When Ms Wilband said cocaine "didn't affect me that much", Ms Osborne asked: "You were in a fit state to look after a child that is six days old?"

"I was fine," Ms Wilband replied.

The topic of Lexi's health followed, including the string of medical appointments Ms Wilband missed.

She also failed to take Lexi for registration, routine check, and immunisations, and was accused of making up stories of why she could not make the appointments.

Ms Wilband denied keeping Lexi away from medical professionals "because [she] thought they'd spot something", as suggested by Ms Osborne.

"You're aware there's clear medical evidence that Lexi was shaken on 12 April and at least once before aren't you?" Ms Osborne asked.

"Yes," Ms Wilband said, to which Ms Osborne asked if she lost her temper.

"I didn't shake her," Ms Wilband replied.

The trial continues.

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